Button-holding clamp.



W. L. BARRON.

Patented Jan. 11 1916.

. Jill 79-.

- the l nited States WILLIAM L. BARRON,

E Fllfi.

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGER MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BUTTON-HOLDING CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. Ill, 1916.

To all (i /1.0m it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. BARRON, a citizen of the. United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button- Holding(.lamps, of which the following is a specification, reference being badtherein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has for its object toprovide effective means for sewingon integralshank buttons or those having upon the back of the head asolid shank pressed, molded or otherwise formed thereon and adapted tobe penetrated by the needle in applying the fastening stitches, and alsoto provide buttonholding means adjustable to receive buttons of widelyvarying shapes and sizes.

As represented in the accompanying drawings, the improvement is embodiedin a jogging work-clamp such as that disclosed in patent to J. Sullivan,No. 777,5(3l, dated December 13, 1904. In its preferred form thework-holder comprises a work-supporting plate havingthe usualneedle-apertureand constituting the lower member of the work-holder, andthe button-holder which constitutes the upper member of the work-holderand which is carried by a spring-pressed sustaining arm.

The work-supporting plate has upon its upper face at one side of theneedle-aperture a work-supporting block affording a shoulder in angularrelation therewith, and the button-holding member carries a pair ofreciprocally movable levers fulcrumed thereon and provided with spacedand opposed button-head sustaining'jaws formed with shouldel's forengagement with the opposite edges of a buttonhead for centering thesame lat erally relatively to the button-fastening means and adapted tohold the shank of a button extending between the same in contact withthe fabric resting upon the top and against the adjacent face of saidblock, which latter has a lateral notch affording a needle-aperture inregister with that of the work-supporting plate. The jaw-carrying leversare sustained in such manner that the button-gripping jaws are rigidlymaintained a fixed distance in advance of the said shoulder of thework-sustaining block. In the operation of the machine, relative joggingmovements are produced between the nately through the button-shank andbeyond the end of the same.

Positively acting means are preferably provided for adjusting thespacing apart of the shouldered button-head sustaining jaws to receivebuttons of diflerent sizes, and in the case of molded shank buttons,buttons having'the transverse eyes or fasteningthread receivingapertures at different distances from the back of the button-head; andthe holder is preferably provided with a pressure-member sustainedindependently of said jaws and adapted to maintain the button-headyieldingly seated upon the said jaws, said pressure member beingcontrolled by an adjustable stop to determine its initial spacing fromsaid jaws to freely admit the edge of a button to be gripped thereby.

To insure against the dislodgment ofthc button from its holder in theretraction of the needle, subsequent to a thrust through the needle-eye,a button-detainer is preferably pivotally mounted upon said support andadapted to swing transversely of the button-gripping jaws to bring itsoperative portionabove and in operative relation with the upper edge ofa button held by said aws.

The subject of the present application is a work-holder of which amodification is disclosed in my Patent No. 1,151,853, of August 31,1915.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a work-holder and aportion of a sewing machine embodying the present improvements, and Fig.2 a front side elevationof the same; Fig. 3 is an end view in partialtransverse section representing the work-holder, and Fig. 4 aperspective view of the button-holding portion of the latter taken fromthe under side. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the supporting plate ofthe button-holder and the detainer-lever mounted thereon, with itsretracting means. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the operative portionof the work-sustaining plate. Fig. 7 is a plan representing thebutton-gripping jaws and the pressure-plate with an interposed button.Fig. 8 is a plan of the rear-' ward ends of the buttonaw carryinglevers, to show their interlocking connection. Fig. 9 is a perspectiveview showing a specimen of one style ofintegral shank button which theneedle 3 which constitutes one member of the stitch-forming mechanism,and the spring-pressed bar 4 to whose lower end 1s secured the block 5carrying the lateral clamp-lifting pin 6. Resting upon the throat-plate7 is the flat work-sustaining plate 8 affording the lower member of thework-holder and formed with the needle aperture 9 having the enlargement9 to accommodate the lower portions of the button-heads. The plate 8 isprovided at the side of the needle-aperture opposite the button-headenlargement with the rectangular work-sustaining block 10 whose lateralface 10 adjacent the needle-aperture 9 affords a shoulder in angularrelation with'the fiat operative upper face of the plate 8 to receivethat portion" of the material against whichthe end of the button-shankrests in the stitching operation. The block 10 is formed with theneedle-clearance notch 11 in the face 10' in. register with the adjacentportion of the needle-aperture.

The primary work-supporting member 8 has a series of transverselyelongated apertures 12 entered by the dowel-pins 13 upon the reducedforward end of the slide-bar 14 constituting a carrier upon which theplate 8 is secured by means of the screw-stud 15 passing through atransverse slot 8 therein and provided with the clamp-nut 16. 'Theslide-bar 14 carries upon its-rearward end the block 17 recessed toreceive the downturned rearward end 18 of the upper workclamp arm 19, asshown more fully in the United States patent to C. M. Horton, No.1,051,998, of February 4, 1913, the arm 19 having a backwardly ofisetopposite end portion 20 terminating in the sustaining plate 21 for thebutton-holder. In practice the slide-bar may be actuated by any usual orsuitable means, such as those represented in the United States patent toJ. J. Sullivan, No. 777,564, of. December 13, 1904, for producingbetween it and the stitch-forming mechanism relative lateral joggingmovements whereby groups of tacking or fastening stitches may be made.Secured by means of the screw 22 upon a suitable seat in thetop of theblock 17 is the rigid pressure spring 23 whose forked forward end restsupon the arm 19 and embraces the stud 24.

thereon.

Pivotally mounted beneath the plate 21 by means of fulcrum-studs. 25arethe buttonjaw carrying levers 26 downwardly ofiset at the forward endand provided with'the depending transverse grippin jaws 27, theoperative faces of these jaws eing notched to form button-head seats 28in their outer faces with the preferably convergently inclined centeringshoulders 29 engagingthe peripheries of the button-heads to rigidlysustain the shank against lateral displacement with its transverseaperture in register with the needle.

The plate 21 is provided at its rearward extremity with a dependinglaterally slotted ear 30 embracing the neck 31 formed in the head 32 ofthe adjusting screw 33 which is fitted within the threaded longitudinalsocket 34 of a slide-block 35 having a reduced end 35' in which istapped the shouldered stud-screw 36 entering the apertured adjacent endsof the links 37 extended later-. ally therefrom and pivotally connectedby means of the stud-screws 38 with the buttonjaw carrying levers 26.

The levers 26 adjacent the fulcrum-studs 25 are provided with lateralextensions 39 having intermeshing segmental series of teeth 40 affordinga positive connection whereby they are caused to move reciprooally underthe action of the adjusting screw 32, block 35 and links 37 to determinetheir spacing apart to receive buttons with different sized heads; andthe fixed fulcrum-studs 25 for the levers 26 serve to maintain the facesof the jaws 27 opposite the seats 28 spaced unyieldingly from theshoulder 10 of the block 10, so that the fabric is by them bent over thecorner of the block 10 and is not allowed to press the end of thebuttonshank so as to dislodge the button-head from the seats 28 anddisplace the button-shank aperture relatively to the needle-path.

The button-head is maintained yieldingly in engagement with the seats 28by means of the pressure-plate 41 which is shown crimped so as tocontact with the same at spaced points upon opposite sides of thecenter. The suitably apertured opposite ends of the plate 41 aresustained upon studs 42 with nuts 43 at the shouldered forwardextremities of the members 44 of a yoke having an apertured rearwardlyextending arm 45 which is entered by the shouldered screwstud 46 tappedinto a depending boss 47 of the slide-block 48 having its opposite edgesnotched to fit a guideway 49 of the sustaining plate 21 in which it isheld by means of the plate 50 and the countersunk-screw 51 and knurledheaded screw 52. The gripping jaws 27 are shown notched to receive the"and formed intermediate its ends with the cross-slot 58 entered b theshank of the clamp-screw 59 tappe --into the plate 21 and designed tomaintain the lever 56 in the desired position of adjustment. Inadjusting the button-holder to receive a button, the levers 26 are firstset by manipulation of the screw 32 so that the shoulders 29 of the jaws27 engage the opposite edges of the button-head at a comparativelyabrupt angle, as represented in Fig. 7, the spacing apart of theadjacent ends of the jaws being such as to freely admit between them thebutton-shank. The clamp-screw 59 is then loosened and the stop-lever 56moved forwardly in engagement with the adjacent extremity of the plate50 to advance the yoke 44 45 for the free admission of the buttonheadbetween the same and the seat 28," and after introduction of the buttonthe stoplever is released and is clamped in the position to which it isshifted by the plate 50 under the action of the spring 53, thebutton-head being securely clamped upon the divided seat 28 afforded bythe levers 26 by the free action of the spring 53. The jaws 27 are thusrigidly maintained inspaced relation suitable to receive buttons of thesame size and style, and the pressure plate 41 is maintained yieldinglyin the closest relation to the seat 28 which it is adapted to assumeunder the existing adjustment of the stop-lever 56, so as to freelyadmit succeeding buttons of the same size and character but to yieldsufliciently to enable the buttons to receive the full effect of thespring 53 in clamping them securely in position.

The plate 21 has at its forward end the depending lug 60 to which isfitted the channeled rearwar'd face of the shank 61 of the presser-foot62 having in its forward extremity the needle clearance notch 63, theshank being adjustably secured in position by means of the fasteningscrew 64 passing through a slot 65 therein and entering the threadedaperture 60 of the lug60. The operative lower face of the presser-footoverlies the work-supporting block 10 and is in practice so adjustedthat it presses the fabric adjacent the stitching position firmly uponthe top of said block.

The part 20 of the clamp-arm 19 is formed with a forwardly extendingprojection 66 sustaining a fulcrum-stud 67 upon which is mounted therock-lever 68 having upon the extremity of its forwardly extending armthe depending lu 69 to which is fitted the channeled shank 70 of thecurved laterally extending detainer-arm 71 the lower face of whose outerextremity 72 is adapted to assume an operative position above andtransverse to the button-head seats of the buttongripping jaws 27 toprevent the disengagement of the button from such jaws in the retractionof the needle after a thrust through the button-shank eye when partiallyfilled with the threads of the fastening stitches. The shank 70 of thedetamerarm 71 is secured for vertical adjustment to accommodatedifferent sized button-heads by means of the clamp-screw 73 entering a.slot 74 therein and tapped into the/ lug 69 of the rock-lever 68.

The rearwardly extending arm of the rock-lever is formed with a nose 75adapted for engagement with the cam-shaped periphery 76 of thestop-lever 77 mounted upon the stud-pin 78 and' adapted to be shiftedthereon to determine the operative position of the extremity 72 of thebutton detainer-arm 71, the nose 75 of the rocklever 68 being maintainedyieldingly in contact with the stop-lever by means of a spring 79connected at one end with the stud-screw 80 upon the member 75 of therock-lever 68 and at the other end with the stud-screw 81 sustained bythe clamp-arm member 20. Rigiclly secured to the bracket-arm head 1 isthe depending arm 82 having near its lower end the laterally inclinedcam-edge 83 disposed slightly above the inner edge of the rearward armof the rock-lever 68. The lifting of the clamp-arm 19 with thebutton-holding elements raises the rock-lever arm into engagement withthe cam-edge 83 and causes the retraction of the operative extremity 72of the detainer-arm 71 from its button-detaining position, therebypermitting the admission of a new button within the gripping jaws afterthe stitched button has been drawn downwardly in the re moval orshifting of the work after a stitching operation.

With molded integral shank buttons, it is common to form thefastening-thread re ceiving transverse aperture in the shank at somedistance from the back of the head, and with this class of buttons it ispreferable to have the part 72 of the detaining arm or detainer projectsomewhat beyond the back .of the head to insure against the escape ofthe button by any slight shifting of the latter within its grippingjaws, the extremity of the member 72 being in such case sufficiently inadvance of the needle-path to prevent interference with the needle inthe fastening operation. In some cases, however, the detainer requiresgreater precision of adjustment, as in the case of the style of buttonsrepresented in Figs. 7 and 9, wherein the head a is formed with acomparatively short integral shank 6 having the transverse aperture 0which.is so close to the back of the button-head as to require aclearance cut (I in the latter. In this case, the extreme forward edgeofthe detaining member 72 requires to be set flush with the rearward faceof the button-head so as to escape interference with the needle, and itis preferably formed with a beveled needle clearance notch 72x58represented in Fig. 5. In performing this adjustment, the eccentricoperative edge 76 of the stop-lever 77 is of con-.

extension plate 21, which causes the raising siderable advantage, as bymeans of it the operative position of the detamer member 72 is readilyand accurately determined.

In the use of the machine, the lifter-bar 4 is raised by the usualmeans, thereby engaging the pin .6 with the lateral extension 84 of thepost 85 secured in the clamp-arm bar 4 is then lowered to permit theparts to assume the positions represented in Fig 3, the rearward facesof the jaws 27 bending the material over the edge of the block 10 so asto prevent the forcible engagement of the same with the extremity of thebuttonshank, to thus partially dislodge the button from the grippingjaws and impair or destroy the register of the aperture 0 with the fneedle-path in the forward'thrust of the needle.

. In the operation of the machine, the rela tive jogging movementbetween the needle and the work-holder causes the descent of the needlealternately through the buttonshank aperture and that portion of thematerial resting upon the top of the block 10 adjacent the end ofthebutton-shank, wherev by a series of fastening stitches s is producedand the button is secured closely to the face of the material, theheight of the top of the block 10 relative to the upper side of thebutton-shank determining the amount of play of the button upon thefastening stitches and the degree of flexibility of thebutton-fastening. By loosening the clampnut 16 upon the screw-stud 15,the worksupporting plate 8 may be shifted laterally so as to adjustthe-spacing of the shoulder 10 of the block 10 from the rearward facesofthe jaws 27 to accommodate materials of different thicknesses.

A button-holder constructed in accordance with the present improvement,as herein shown and described, is adapted to accommodate a style ofbutton having a molded head and wire shank, or having a cloth-coveredhead and unapertured projecting cloth shank, or a molded button havingthe head and shank formed integral with a transverse aperture in theshank either close to or compar'atively remote from the back of thehead. It will also accommodate buttons of these several types with headsof widely varying diameter and thickness. The improvement thereforeprovides for a very material increase 1n the capacity of button-holdersover .PIGVIOUS construct1ons,and-th1s is due partly to the precisionwith which the button is held from lateral displacement relatively tothe fastening means, partly to the means of controlling the fabricadjacent the buttonshank whereby it is prevented from displacing thebutton within the gripping jaws, and partly to certain constructivefeatures of the work-holder.

While the various constructive features herein shown and describedobviously contribute to the result above mentioned, it is evident thatcertain of them are susceptible of modification or may be wholly omittedfrom association with others of them without departure from the presentinvention.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim hereinis 1. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member havinga worksustaining operative face provided with a shoulder in angularrelation therewith, and a shank-button holding member constructed with abutton-support disposed above the face of the work-supporting member andat the side of said shoulder from the adjacent face of which it isrigidly sustaineda fixed distance and provided with button-headsustaining jaws with an intervening space extending throughout theirdepth in a direction transverse to the operative face of saidwork-supporting member, and spring-actuated means acting independentlyof and adapted to press the button-head upon said aws. j

2. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member having aworksustaining operative face provided with a shoulder in angularrelation therewith and a button-holding member constructed with a pairof reciprocally movable levers provided with opposed button-headsustaining jaws and fulcrumed to swing so as to move said jaws in a pathadjacent and substantially parallel with the face of said shoulder, andmeans for holding a button-head in engagement with said jaws with itsshank projecting between the same.

3. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member having aworksustaining operative face provided with a shoulder in angularrelation therewith, and a button-holding member constructed with a pairof reciprocally movable levers mounted upon independent fulcrumsdisposed in a planesubstantially parallel with the face of said shoulderand provided with opposed button-head sustaining jaws, and means forholding a button-head in engagement with said jaws with its shankprojecting between the same.

4. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member having awork sustaining operative face .provided wlth a' i shoulder in angularrelation therewlth, and

a button-holding member constructed with a support, a pair of spaced andopposed jaws mounted upon said support and d sposed at the side of andrigidly sustained a fixed dis tance from the face of said shoulder, andmeans sustained by said su port independently of said jaws for yielingly maintaining a button-head in engagement therewith. 5. TheWork-holding means comprising a work-supporting member having aworksustaining operative face provided with a shoulder in angularrelation-therewith, and a button-holding member constructed with asupport, a pair of spaced and opposed jaws disposed at the side of andrigidly sustained relatively to the face of said shoulder, and meansincluding an element mounted upon said support and bodily movabletransversely of said jaws whereby the button is maintained in engagementwith the latter.

6. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member having aworksustaining operative face provided with a shoulder in angularrelation therewith, and a button-holding member constructed with asupport, a pair of reciprocally movable jaws mounted upon said supportand confined to movement in a path substantially parallel with the faceof said shoulder, positively acting means for adjusting the spacingapartof said jaws, and yieldingly acting means for holding a button-head inengagement with said jaws with its shank proecting between the same.

7 The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member having aworksustaining operative face provided with a shoulder in angularrelation therewith, and a button-holding member constructed with asupport, a pair of spaced and opposed jaws mounted upon said support anddisposed at the side of and sustained a fixed distance from the face ofsaid shoulder, a springactuated holding element for maintaining abutton-head in engagement with said jaws with its shank extendingbetween the same, and an adjustable stop for determining the initialposition of said holding element relative to said jaws.

8. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member having aworksustaining operative face provided with a shoulder in angularrelation therewith, and a button-holding member constructed with asupport, a pair of spaced and opposed jaws mounted upon said support anddisposed at the side of and sustained a fixed distance from. the face ofsaid shoulder, means for adjusting the degree of separation of saidjaws, a spring-actuated holding element for maintaining a button-head inengagement with said jaws with its shank extending between the same, andan adjustable stop for determining the initial position of said holdingelement relative to said aws.

9. The button-holder comprising a support, a pair of reciprocallymovable levers fulcrumed thereon and provided with opposed jaws havingbutton-head seats adapted to engage the rear face of the buttonhead, afulcrum-block, link connections between said block and said levers, anadjusting screw for shifting said block upon said support for adjustingthe spacing apart of said jaws, and means adapted to yield independentlyof said jaws for maintainin the button-head in engagement withsaid aws.

10. The button-holder comprising a support, a pair of spaced and opposedjaws sustained by said support, a holding element for maintaining abutton-head in engagement with said jaws with its shank extendingbetween the same, a slide-block, a connection between said slide-blockand said holding element, a spring connected with said slide-block fordrawing said holding element toward said jaws, and an adjustable stopfor limiting the movement of said slide-block under the action of saidspring.

11. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member, and abuttonholding member constructed with spaced button-gripping jawsdisposed above and in angular relation with the operative face of thework-supporting member, and a buttondetainer having a button-engagingportion disposed transverse to said jaws and movable into and out ofoperative relation with a button sustained by said jaws.

12. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member, and abuttonholding member constructed with a' support, spaced button-grippingjaws mounted upon said support and disposed above and in angularrelation with the operative face of the work-supporting member, and abutton-detainer pivotally mounted upon said support to swing into andout of operative position above and transversely of said button-grippingjaws.

13. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member, and abuttonholding member constructed with a support, spaced button-grippingjaws mounted upon said support and disposed above and in angularrelation with the operative face of the work-supporting member, abutton-detainer movable transversely of said jaws toward and fromoperative position above the latter, a carrier for said detainer, andmeans for securing said detainer upon its carrier adjustablytransversely to the direction of movement of said detainer.

14. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member, and abuttonholding member constructed with a support, spaced button-grippingjaws mounted upon said support and disposed above and in angularrelation with the operative face of the work-supporting member, abutton-detainer pivotally mounted uponsaid support to swing into and outof operative position above and transversely of said button-grippingjaws, an adjustable stopfor determining the operative position of saiddetainer, and a spring for yieldingly maintaining said detainer inengagement with said stop.

15. In a button sewing machine, the combination with stitch-formingmechanism including a reciprocating needle, of a worksupporting memberhaving a work-sustaining operative face provided with a shoulder inangular relation therewith, and a buttonholding member movable towardand from said work-supporting member and comprising a button-supportdisposed above the face of the latter and at the side of said shoulderfrom the adjacent face of which it is rigidlg verse to the operativeface of said work-- supporting member and sprin actuated means actingindependently of sald jaws for Y pressing the button-head upon saidjaws.

16. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member having aworksustaining operative face provided with a shoulder in angularrelation therewith, and a button-holding member constructed with V asupport, a pair of spaced and o posed jaws disposed at the side of andrigi ly sustained a fixed distance from the face of said shoulder,-meansengaging the button-head for yieldingly maintaining it in engagementwith said jaws, and a presser-foot mounted upon said supportindependently of said jaws and at the side of said shoulder op 0- sitethat occupied by said jaws and over ying the work-supporting member.

17. The work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member having aworksustammg operative face provided with a shoulder in angular relationtherewith, and

, a button-holding member constructed with a support, a pair of awsmounted upon sai sipaced and opposed support, said jaws being disposedat the side of and rigidly sustained a fixed distance from the face ofsaid shoulder, means for yieldingly maintaining a button-head inengagement with said aws, and a resser-foot mounted upon said supportand provided with means of adjustment in a direction substantiallyparallel with said shoulder and adapted to overlie the work-supportingmember adjacent said shoulder.

18. The work-holding means comprising a fastening means and diswork-supporting member, and a buttone operative face 19. Thework-holding means comprising a work-supporting member, and abuttonholding member constructed with spaced button-gripping jaws havingshoulders for engagement with the opposite edges of a button-head forcentering the same laterally relative to button-fastemng means anddisposed above and in angular relation with the operative face of thework-supportin member, and a button-detainer having a utter;- engagingportion disposed transverse to and above said jaws and movable into andout of operative relation with a button sustained by said jaws.

20. The Work-holding means comprising a work-supporting member, acarrier therefor, a worksustaining block mounted thereon and affording ashoulder in angular relation with the operative face of said member,means whereby said block may be adjusted relatively to said carrier andin a direction transverse to said shoulder, and a button-holding memberconstructed with a button-support disposed above the face of thework-supporting member and at the side of said shoulder and providedwith a button-head sustaining jaw, and means for maintaining thebutton-head seated upon said jaw.

21. The work-holding means comprising a work-support and abutton-holding member constructed with laterally spaced jaws havingbutton-head seats and arranged substantially in a plane transverse tothe supporting face of the work-su port, and means for pressing abutton-hea in engagement with said jaws with its shank exposed betweenthem.

22. The work-holding means comprising a work-support and abutton-holding member constructed with laterally spaced jaws with thedirection of thrust of the needle, In testimony whereof, I have signedmy and means for pressing a button-head in enname to this specification,in the presence gagement With said jaws with its shank exof twosubscribing Witnesses.

posed between them, said. needle and but- I WILLIAM L. BARRON.ton-holding member being arranged to re- Witnesses: ceive relativejogging movements trans- H. A. KORNEMANN, J12,

versely to said plane. W. P. STEWART.

